Meet Viktoria von Hof: the heart and soul of SUKHA Retreats, blending her German heritage and African adventures to inspire holistic well-being and joy.
The friendly introduction: Curious, open-hearted, adventurous, music lover. Sometimes I still hear “Hey this is Vicky, my friend from Africa”. Which is funny because I’m fully German, raised in Bremen, but with a big heart for the African continent. When I was 25 I decided to move to South Africa to see the world, to experience the joy of life, until Covid struck – finding myself back in Germany shortly after. Spending many trips in nature surrounded by wildlife, I’m aiming to carry a slice of Africa back to Europe, integrating those profound insights on the essence of life into my teachings.
The inspiration: I lost my dad when I was 17 due to a sudden heart attack. He was overworked, stressed out, constantly pressured. In a society with a lot of mental disease, I now feel compelled to offer individuals something that potentially might change their life for the better. Providing them with a tool, an inspiration, a practice that facilitates a journey towards being in a better space.
The meaning: SUKHA is a Sanskrit word that can be translated into joy, ease, pleasure, happiness. Imagine a wheel. If the wheel is properly aligned within the axle, enabling it to spin smoothly - that’s SUKHA. To be in a good space, to be happy, to experience joy – mentally, physically, in the environment you’re absorbing yourself in.
The dream: SUKHA is still in a very early stage. I started exactly a year ago with bringing my idea on paper. As a Jivamukti / Hatha-Vinyasa Yoga Teacher I want SUKHA to grow organically, as authentic as possible and to build a strong community as well as beautiful partnerships with other holistic health practitioners to establish a brand which promotes mental and physical health on various topics. I’m dreaming of having a positive impact on other people’s lives – even if it’s for one out of 100.
The life Motto: A good friend of mine from Cape Town once said to me „Without darkness there can not be light“. It’s true – we can not expect to live a life with only highs. Only the lows allow us to feel the highs. Look at an ocean, it comes in waves and so does life.
How to connect to nature: Walking barefoot (when possible). I seem to be the one constantly misplacing my shoes - whether it’s during a retreat, at a wedding, or in my moms garden. I love walking. Taking my dog for long walks or hikes in the mountains. And water! Preferably a dip in a cold ocean. Makes me feel alive.
